Appointment Of Margery Okadigbo As NNPC Boss: Group Applauds Buhari, Seeks His Support For Igbo Presidency

By Frank Oshanugor

The recent appointment of late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo’s wife; Senator Margery Okadigbo as the Board Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited by President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to attract commendations just as a group; Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET) has showered encomium on the President over the appointment.

The group however, has also urged Buhari to go a notch further by supporting the emergence of a candidate of Igbo extraction as the President of Nigeria in the 2023 general election.

It would be recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari recently made history by inaugurating an independent Board for the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) with Senator Margery Okadigbo, wife of late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo as its Chairman.

This was the first time any President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be inaugurating a Board of an independent NNPC Limited.

According to Prince Chris Azor, Chairman of the group who doubles as Coordinator, National Coalition on Improved Service Delivery (NACOISED), in a statement on Monday “by this development, Senator Margery Okadigbo has made history as the first woman to occupy the position. While we appreciate Mr. President for this gesture, we equally passionately, appeal to him to support the nomination and election of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in the 2023 general election.”

Comrade Azor further remarked that “the appointment of Senator Mrs. Okadigbo is a well-thought-out reward for hard work, merit, tenacity of purpose, discipline, good conduct and commitment to the national interest.

The call for a President of Igbo extraction has become more strident since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election management body announced the date for general elections for February, 2023

Numerous Igbo cultural groups and opinion leaders, like Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Ime Obi, Elders Forum, Civil Society and Youth leaders etc have been appealing to political parties, ethnic nationalities and patriots across the geopolitical zones to allow Southeast the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria.

This they said “is in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness. According to their argument, Igbo, like other major ethnic nationalities, played significant role in the making of the Nigerian nation from pre and post-colonial periods, and should take their pride of place in the scheme of things in the country.

They insist that “those who love the corporate existence of Nigeria should embrace truth, equity and justice”

ACSONET has therefore, lent its voice in amplifying advocacy on the need for other patriotic Nigerians to support the emergence of a President of Igbo extraction in 2023, for justice, equity, fairness and sustainable peace.